Illinois Gaming Board Tracks Growing VLT Sector

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Operator-run video lottery is "off to a slow start...with mixed early results," according to one Midwest newspaper.

Citing figures from the Illinois Gaming Board, St. Louis Today reported that roughly 2,000 VLTs have gone live since the program's limited test phase in September, followed by a rolling launch that began in October. Approximately $5.3 million in revenues were generated by VLTs through the end of November.

The newspaper conceded that some location owners are pleased with VLT earnings and that more machines are steadily being added to the network, and as a result future revenues will climb.

IGB officials are standing by early predictions that the state's VLT sector will eventually comprise 70,000 machines, said the report. But the agency declined to forecast the market's eventual annual gross revenues.